The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said Houston radio host Michael Berry (KTRH-AM 740) made that call to violence on his May 26 program. In his response to a caller named "Tony" who supported the right to build the planned mosque in New York -- an effort that has come under rhetorical attack by anti-Islam extremists -- Berry said:
"No, no, Tony, you can't build a mosque at the site of 9/11. No, you can't. No, you can't. And I'll tell you this -- if you do build a mosque, I hope somebody blows it up. . .I hope the mosque isn't built, and if it is, I hope it's blown up, and I mean that."
Hear Michael Berry's Call to Violence: http://www.cair.com/audio/michaelberry.wav
[Berry has in the past been a guest host for nationally-syndicated broadcasters like Mark Levin, Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly.]
"Calls for acts of violence against houses of worship must never be tolerated or excused," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. "We ask the FCC to demonstrate that incitement to violence is never acceptable on our nation's airwaves."
He said Berry's call to violence against an American mosque is of particular concern, coming as it does after a bombing at a mosque in Jacksonville, Fla., earlier this month.
SEE: Lt. Gov. Tours Mosque that was Bombed
Awad noted that the planned New York mosque is being opposed by a collection of anti-Islam hate-mongers, one of whom recently launched an Islamophobic bus advertisement campaign in that city.
SEE: NYC Woman's Ad Crusade - Say No to Islam (Video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1Y3ybmLWjY
CAIR recently expressed concern about a "growing atmosphere of anti-Muslim sentiment" nationwide.
SEE: Tea Party Leader Says Muslims Worship 'Monkey-God'
Source: Council on American-Islamic Relations
See also Sydney Irresistible and Mike Hitchen Unleashed
Putting principles before profits
Putting principles before profits
